It was a busy weekend for DePauw softball as the Tigers went to St. Louis, MO to play in the Schutt Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. Coming off of two wins the day before, the Tigers not only wanted to win their next two games, but they wanted to continue scoring and putting pressure on their opponents. They beat Washington University 5-4 and Wartburg University 9-2.
The Tigers played Wartburg in their first game. DePauw started out strong with a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Becca St. Germain scored her teammate Jade Meijia Wick with the first run. The Tigers added four runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to win the game.
In their second game against Washington, the Tigers gained another early lead with Jordyn Fera doubling home Kate Geary in the first inning. Fera then had a solo home run in the third to make the score 2-0. In the bottom of the fifth inning, they scored three to take back the lead that Washington had gained in the top of the fifth to win the game 5-4.
Cami Henry, who pitches and plays first base, improved to a 3-2 record with the complete win, striking out 12 players and walking only one.
“Going into the weekend we wanted to sweep and get these big wins because these wins could have an impact on our ability to continue in the postseason,” Henry said. “We had the goal to continue getting better and to gain more trust with each other on the field”
St. Germain said the Tigers go into each game with the expectation that every player will play to the best of their abilities.
“The team’s goals was to just get on top early and try to do our best with executing and getting runs because we knew they would come out strong since we beat both of them yesterday [Saturday],” she said.
Since last year the team has improved in almost every area, allowing the Tigers to hopefully make it even further in the playoffs than in the past. This has brought excitement to the team to start the year.
“I’m so excited for this season because we have so much depth at any position,” St. Germain said. “I know no matter who is in the game they will get the job done.”
The Tigers next game is on March 24 at Whitworth University to play a doubleheader.